Washington: Your Input Needed on Recreational Shooting in Wenas Wildlife Area

The Wenas Target Shooting Advisory Committee (WTSAC) has been working over the summer to identify potential solutions to address concerns about recreational shooting in the Wenas Wildlife Area.  As a part of this committee, NRA is working alongside other stakeholders and community members to formulate recommendations to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) on how to best manage concentrated shooting sites, enforce existing laws and regulations, and provide outreach and education to the public on the safe use of these public lands.

To help formulate recommendations to WDFW, the Wenas Advisory Committee is asking for additional user information on the various types and locations of activities in the area.  If you are a recreational shooter, hunter, or user of the Wenas Wildlife Area, please click here to complete a short survey by September 15.

Last fall, the WDFW proposed closing the 115,000 acre Wenas Wildlife Area to recreational shooting, only allowing shooting in one of two proposed range sites.  Recreational shooting has long occurred in the wildlife area, and the use of these public lands has been enjoyed by generations of shooters from across Washington.  Thanks to the public opposition from NRA members, shooters, hunters, local legislators and elected officials, the WDFW did not move forward with their proposed closure and formed an advisory committee to help find solutions for their concerns.

An NRA liaison has been selected to serve on the advisory committee, along with other shooters, hunters, and community members.  The Wenas Target Shooting Advisory Committee is meeting monthly through 2017, and is also hosting several “Listening Sessions” for the public to provide feedback.

Keeping public lands open for target shooting and hunting is a priority of your NRA and we will continue to oppose any proposals for the Wenas Wildlife Area which would restrict shooters and hunters from using public lands.  Please stay tuned to your email inbox and www.nraila.org for further updates.